Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-28
my FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
Ray Palmer, Eminent Writer of Hymns, Lately
Deceased.

Ray Palmer, Eminent Writer of Hymns, Lately
| Deceased
| The late Rev. DR.. Ray Palmer, writer of
the hymn beginning: "My faith looks up to
Thee" and many other sacred poems Only
less well known than that, died at Newark,
n. J. on March %. He was distinguished as
a prose writer, and the list of his works evil
dences his considerable literary Industry.
His books were reprinted in London, and
are probably as well known in the British
Islands as on this side of the Atlantic.
Among his productions are: spiritual
Improvements, or Aid to Growth
in Grace" published in 1889. Closet
Hours" in 1851; Remember Me-" in 1855
"Hints on the formation of Religious
Opinion in 1869. Hymns and Sacred
Pieces" in 1866; Hymns of my HOLY
Hours, in 1866; "Home or the Unlost
Paridise," in 1869; Earnest Words on
True Success in Life" in 1873; Complete
Poetical Works." in 1876; and "Voicas of
Hope and Gladness," in 1880.
The late estimable Clergyman, whose
loss Is deeply mou1ned, was born at Lit
tie Compton, R. l., Nov. u, 1908. His
father, Thomas Palmer, Judge of the
Court of Errors and Appeals, was de-
scendent of the early settlers of Plymouth
Colony. When about Is years old, Ray
Palmer went to Boston, where he attend
ed sohoel for some time. At Is he en-
tered Phillips Academy at Andover,
where he spent three years preparing for
Yale. He was graduated in 1880. For a
year he taught the classics in seminary
for young ladies in New York. In 1881
he returned to New Haven and taught in
the New Haven Young Ladies' Institute.
Mr.. Ray was licensed to preach by the
New Haven, West Association, in the
summer of 1882. He was married the
the same year. In 1885 he was ordained
paster of the Central Congregational
Church, in Bath, Me. He remained in
Bath for fifteen years, and during that
period he was member of the Board of
Overseers of Bowdoin College, Bruins
wick, and took an active part in educa-
tlonal matters and literature.
In 1S47 DR.. Raw made tour of Europe,
When he returned he wrote a series of
notes and comments, which were publish
ed In the Christian Mirror, at Portland,
Me- He became the pastor of the First
Congregational Church in Albany in 1850
and held that relation for fifteen years.
Union College conferred upon him the
degree of d. D., while pastor in Albany.
For thirteen years he was a member of
the Boad of Trustees of the Theological
Seminary at Andover. Twelve years, be-
ginning In 1866, he was Secretary of the
American Congregational Union in New
YORK, and during his administration over
SIX hundred church edifces were erected
by the aid of that society. When DR..
Palmer was stricken with paralysis he
had retired from active duties, although
for three years he was associate pastor
of the Bellville Avenue Congregational
Church. For years he has lived quietly
in Newark. On Oct 3, 1882, he and Mrs.
Palmer celebrated the fiftieth anniver-
sary of their wedding, and they received
many congratulations. DR.. Ray was the
father of ten children, seven of whom are
now dead. He leaves two unmarried
daughters, who have been living with
him, and son, the Rev. Charles Ray Pal
mer, of Bridgeport, Conn. Mrs. Palmer
died about year ago.
MY Faith Looks Up to Thee" has been
translated into twenty languages. 1t
was written in 1880 in the building in
New York where the author was teaching,
soon after leaving college. He carried
the hymn for two years in his pocket
book. One day DR.. Lowell Mason met
him and asked him If he had ever written
any hymns, as he was about publishing a
volume and would like to include one of
his. Mr.. Palmer at first said that he had
not, but suddenly remembering the hymn
In his pOcket-bOOk he handed it over to
DIR. Mason, who read it and said; "You
may achieve great things during your
Lifetime, but you will be best known by
this hymn"